Icebox cooky cutter and method



Jan. 29, 1952 D. B. FURLONG 10E Box cooKY CUTTER AND METHOD Filed Aug. ll, 1950 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 29, 1952 ICEBOX COOKY CUTTER AND METHOD Donn B. Furlong, Oakland, Calif., assigner of one-third to Ernest Weil, San Francisco, Calif., and one-third to Joseph J. Bruno, San Bruno,

Calif.

Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,782

8 Claims. (Cl. 107-54) This invention relates to an ice box cookie cutter and to a method of cutting ice box cookies and distributing them on a supporting surface.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a simple, economically made and easily operated ice box cookie cutter that is adapted to be operated in a relatively small space for quickly cutting cookies from ice box dough sufcient to properly ll a conventional, commercial size oven tray and to properly distribute the cookies on said tray.

Ice box dough from which ice box cookies are made is relatively hard, and if formed into a column of any desirable cross -sectional contour, it is easily handled and will not stick to the hands or to equipment.

An object of this invention is the method of forming cookies from columns of ice box dough and automatically distributingsaid cookies in the proper manner on a supporting surface, which may be, and preferably is, a commercial sized tray for a conventional baking oven.

Other objects and advantages Will appear in the description and in the drawing.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a tcp plan view of the means for form ing the cookies.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1 with the large hand wheel at the near side being in dot-dash lines so as not to obscure structural details behind the wheel.

` Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. l before a cutting movement.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 but showing the cutter at the end of a cutting stroke.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a side of the 'main frame as seen from line V-V of Fig. 2.

` Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the cutting blade only along line VI-VI of' Fig. 1.

` Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 2.

In detail, the cookie cutting apparatus herein shown comprises a main table, generally designated I, which table is elongated and is provided with a pair of racks 2, 3 along each of its longitudinally extending edges. These racks are parallel, and their teeth are directed upwardly so as to form tracks for a pair of coaxial gears 5, (i that are secured on coaxial stub shafts 1, and which shafts, in turn, are secured to one end of the frame 8 of a carriage generally designated S.

At the other end of frame 8 is a shaft I0 that is parallel with shafts 1 and which shaft I0 carries gears I I, I2 at its ends. The teeth of gears I I, I2 are also in mesh with the teeth of racks 2, 3. Shaft I 0 is journalled for rotation in bearings on frame 8.

Frame 8 comprises side frame members I3, I4 and end members I5, I6, the end member I5 being adjacent shafts 1, and end member I6 being adjacent shaft I 0.

Secured to gear 5 that is on the shaft `I adjacent side frame member I3 (Fig. 1) is :a large diameter hand wheel 2l] that has a handle 2I projecting from a side thereof for grasping by the hand of an operator. This wheel is relatively heavy, thus functioning generally in the manner of a fly wheel or similar inertia member for stabilizing movement of the frame or carriage 8 on racks 2, 3 when the wheel is revolved by hand. Gear 5 being secured to wheel 20, it is obvious that the carriage 9 will be moved along the racks in one direction or the other when the hand wheel is revolved.

Secured to the side frame members I3, I4 at a point intermediate the end members I5, I6 is a vertical plate 23, and secured to the side of vertical plate 23 that faces end frame member I5 is a horizontal row of vertical, horizontally spaced, open-ended tubes 24. These tubes may be removably clamped against plate 23 by a horizontal strip 25, the ends of which project beyond the ends of the row of tubes and are secured to plate 23 by wing nuts 26. Upon loosening wing nuts 25, the tubes may be moved closer together or farther apart, or either up or down, and then by tightening the nuts they will be held rigidly in adjusted position.

While tubes 24 are shown in Fig. 1 as being rectangular in cross-sectional contour, they may be circular or of any other desired shape.

In whatever adjusted position the tubes 24 will be in, the lower edge of plate 23 should project below the lower ends of said tubes.

Below the lower edge of the vertical plate 23, and extending at its ends through horizontal slots 2T formed in side frame members I3, |14 is a cross-head plate 28. This cross head plate is horizontally slidable transversely of its length in said slots, and the outer ends of said cross head plate are pivotally secured by pivots 30 to one of the ends of a pair of-connecting rods 3i. The opposite ends of said connecting rods 3| are respectively pivotally secured to crank elements 32 that are secured to the ends of shaft I 0 for rota that comprises an elongated horizontal; liori' zontally elongated blade 312 extending between" said arms, the ends of said blade being'securedto the latter. Blade 31 is oiset to the side of the cross head plate 28 toward theaendframemember;

l5, and is formed with a cutting edge 33 along the edge adjacent plate28. This edge is substantially in a vertical plane in which the adjacent"l edgefof saidxr cross headfplatesis disposed; Hence,

Y looking downvfromaboveplate 282and-bladef there is preferably: no gap betweenttlie adjacent edges ofthe plateand bla-de', althoughbladeii is'at'a level above thatorI plate'28 From the above, it will be seen that plate' 2i! and blade 31S arereciprocable -inadirection .transversely of their lengths'when thercarriagei isk rolled along'racks 2; 3. Thisrisdueato the fact: that plate.28 isV connected by connectingsrodsel': with cranks 32, and the latterrarezconnectedabyshaft lll-with gears I-I, I2.

Aton'e end ofit's'stroke, the. pl'at'ev 38'? extends across the lower openendsv of thefY tubes: 2A, but

off the tube;-. The-:width of? bladez'l: is;- preferably' j such as to extend substantially across: the.: lower open a endsv of the; tubes: when; the; bladegisy at; the

^ end ofthe stroke;that..places itzbelowfsaidfftubes.

The blade` 3:?? iszprovided with af pluralityy ol.AV

downwardly slanting Yiingyers` lillv which. may be, struckrfromzthebladev (Figs. 1i; andrif.,

The lower edge of plate 23 isi the cookies are to be distributed, moyingsaidow The; table l; preferably has opstanding:mar-n is. sucient distance.- t0, enable, aA conventional cookietray 43. indicated. in .dotfdashdinesin Fig,

thereon supported on plate 28 as seen in Fig. 3. Immediately upon moving the carriage 9 over the tray the plate 28V will commence to slip from under the columns Eil and at the same time blade V3l will commence to cut a slice 5l (Fig. 4) oi theV lower end of each column and the blade will then supporti thecolumns liwhenthe latterris in the positionl shown in Fig. 4.

The slices 5l will then drop by gravity onto the g tray 43 and by the time the carriage has moved of dough.. The carriage is moved forwardly until the tray is fullyfloaded, after which the tray may be removedLr another positioned, and reverse movement ofthe carriage over this second tray williill it with slices or cookies. While thecar riage may bemoved back to an initial starting position. after. each. tray is filled, this is.T not necessary for. the apparatus will work aswell going` in. one direction` as.in.. the, other..

Thev curved` marginal portion, oftheblade properly. directs the. slicedownwardly and onto the tray when the blade hasiinished its cut. The lower, marginal` portion of the verticaL plate 2.3 insures againstany tendency ofltheY slice to. slide forwardly. during the cutting. step.

1. The method of' cutting and' distributing-4 ice box cookies on a. supporting surface. that'comprises-the steps of. supporting vvertically extend.- ing columns. ofV ice, box dough. in a. horizontally extending row. spaced'. above. a.V surface on. which ment -inone direction, .supportingmeans onQsaid Y carriage adapted to support a horizontal row ofsubstantially. vertical: columns of. ice., boxf. dough thereon, cutting means adjacent the lower ends:V

of the columnsofsaidvrowsupportedfor move-- ment transversely ,acrossr` the lower ends of said columnsv for cuttinga slice of douglroff thebottom of eachcolumn, means-for moving saidsup.-

5 tobe.positionedon-.said table.. Whentheetiay, Y

' only-'a single tray, in which case the length` of the table would be Vonly slightly A'longer than 'sucli" tray. At 'any' time,` sections could'beaddedto'tlie tablecarryiiig racks thereon, sincelthevtable it self functions merely as a supportfor the ear'- riage and trays, and has'no'moving parts;

For` the purposel of Y illustration, letl it bees-- sumed thata'- tray Yison tablev l andl thecarriage'- Sis atoneendofthe tray-with thecrosshead"` plate 29 inlth'e positionshown in' Figa 3. FlachA or" tli'e\tubes 214i has=a` YcolumnA 5B1 ofi" icebei@ dough porting means from below said columns during, movementof saidA cuttingrmeans across said lower ends: whereby the said slices will be'free tosfall; by gravity upon being cut. from; saidcolumns, means'y supporting.` saidA carriage: for said horif zontal. movement including a wheel rotatablef during said movement, and a mechanism-con.-v nectingvsaid wheel withsaidfcutting meansland with said. supportingmeans for: simultaneously Ymoving said supporting means from belowsaid. columns and said ycutting means. across the lower ends of said columns upon rotation-oisaid-.wheelg andgmmovement-of said1carriage..

3;.Ice,V box-v cookie; cutting apparatus;` compris;k ing; g. acarriage supported for horizontal move^ ment in. one, direction, a support ont said-,carriager forsupportingeJ verticallcolumn .of1ic`eboxdough?A thereon, holding' means on ysaid .carriage forfholdf ing: said. column 'e'ugrainsti lateral; movement rela-fY tive to said'carriage, ai,cutter'adjacenifgsaid;l supi port; Vmeans f sup porting; said. cutter oni, said* car.,ak

' riagef.or;.movementacrossthe lower endofsal column held by said holding means for cutting a slice o the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction.

4. Ice box cookie cutting apparatus comprising; a carriage supported for horizontal movement in one direction, a support on said carriage for supporting a vertical column of ice box dough thereon, holding means on said carriage for holding said column against lateral movement relative to said carriage, a cutter adjacent said support, means supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement across the lower end of a column held by said holding means for cutting a slice oii` the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction, means connecting said cutter with said support for movement therewith in direction away from below said column upon movement of said cutter across said lower end of said column.

5. Ice box cookie cutting apparatus comprising; a carriage supported for horizontal movement in one direction, a support on said carriage for supporting a vertical column of ice box dough thereon, holding means on said carriage for holding said column against lateral movement relative to said carriage, a cutter adjacent said support, means supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement across the lower end of a column held by said holding means for cutting a slice off the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction, means connecting said cutter with said support for movement therewith in a direction away from below said column upon movement of said cutter across said lower end of said column, said wheel being a gear wheel, a stationary rack extending longitudinally of the direction of movement of said carriage having its teeth in engagement with the teeth of said wheel, and the said mechanism including a crank connected with said wheel, a connecting rod connecting said crank with said cutter and support.

6. Ice box cookie cutting apparatus comprising; a carriage supported for horizontal movement in one direction, a support on said carriage for supporting a vertical column of ice box dough thereon, holding means on said carriage for holding said column against lateral movement relative to said carriage, a cutter adjacent said support, means supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement across the lower end of a column held by said holding means for cutting a slice olf the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction, said cutter being a horizontal blade disposed at a level below that of said support and offset to one side of said support and provided with a cutting edge 0 Number along the edge adjacent said support, the marginal portion of said blade along the edge opposite said cutting edge being curved downwardly for forcing the slice cut from the lower end of said column downwardly when said blade is moved across the said lower end, and means connecting said support with said blade for movement away from below said column when said blade is moved across said lower end of said column.

7. Ice box cookie cutting apparatus comprising; a carriage supported for horizontal movement in one direction, a support on said carriage for supporting a vertical column of ice box dough thereon, holding means on said carriage for holding said column against lateral movement relative to said carriage, a cutter adjacent said support, means supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement across the lower end of a column held by said holding means for cutting a slice orf the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction, said cutter being a horizontal blade disposed at a level below that or said support and offset to one side of said support and provided with a cutting edge along the edge adjacent said support, the marginal portion of said blade along the edge opposite said cutting edge being curved downwardly for forcing the slice cut from the lower end of said column downwardly when said blade is moved across the said lower end, and means connecting said support with said blade for movement away from below said column when said blade is moved across said lower end of said column, means for moving said carriage in said direction.

8. Ice box cookie cutting apparatus comprising; a carriage supported for horizontal movement in one direction, a support on said carriage for supporting a vertical column of ice box dough thereon, holding means on said carriage for holding said column against lateral movement relative to said carriage, a cutter adjacent said support, means supporting said cutter on said carriage for movement across the lower end of a column held by said holding means for cutting a slice oi the lower end of said column, means supporting said carriage for said movement including a wheel, a mechanism connecting said wheel with said blade for so moving said blade across the lower end of said column upon movement of said carriage in said direction, means connecting said cutter with said support for movement therewith in a direction away from below said column upon movement of said cutter across said lower end of said column, said holding means comprising a vertical open ended tube.

DONN B. FURLONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Manning Feb. 14, 1905 Hodgdon et al. Mar. 23, 1920 Baker Sept. 20, 1949 

